Residing on a farm in upstate New York, multi-reedist, vocalist and composer Ashley Paul finds daily inspiration in the sounds and often the silences surrounding her. Using whispered and distorted melodies, wailing reeds and subtly explored overtones Ashley creates lyrical, often haunting moments equally involved in high volumes and the nearly inaudible. She is currently working on a solo CD patch-working field recordings with floating vocals, assorted reeds, bells, guitar and keyboards to be released early 2008 on REL Records. In addition to her solo projects, Ashley can be found in duo with Eli Keszler and in trio with Anthony Coleman and Keszler recently recording with Coleman for his December, 2007 release on New World Records. Ashley has collaborated or performed with Roscoe Mitchell (Art Ensemble of Chicago), Ran Blake, Joe Maneri and George Russell and has performed at venues such as The Stone, ISSUE Project Room, Brooklyn Summer Stage and Jordan Hall.
Eli Keszler is a Hudson Valley based composer/multi instrumentalist who primarily uses percussion to create his sound, which balances droning harmonics created from bowed percussion and intense fast free rhythms. He has performed, recorded or collaborated with a number of diverse artists such as Jandek, Roscoe Mitchell (Art Ensemble of Chicago), Anthony Coleman, Geoff Mullen (Last Visible Dog), Steve Pyne (Redhorse), Greg Kelley, T Model Ford (Fat Possum Records), Jamaican music legend Lyn Taitt and pianist Ran Blake. Performing at venues such as The Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston), Irving Plaza, ISSUE Project Room, The Stone and The Knitting Factory (NYC and LA). In addition to his work as a performer he put up a installation last Spring at the Boston Cyber Arts Festival. Keszler has recently released a solo album on his own imprint REL records, and has completed a soon to be released solo LP on Geoff Mullen’s Rare Youth label.
Loren Connors has improvised and composed guitar music for about three decades. His music, sometimes called avant blues, has been recorded on Family Vineyard, Drag City, Table of the Elements, and other labels. He has performed with Alan Licht, John Fahey, Thurston Moore, Jim O’Rourke, Derek Bailey, and other artists. Thom Jurek (All Music Guide) writes,”Connors, like John Cage and Mark Rothko before him, sees and hears the value in not ordering sounds along a particular path even if that path has been drawn out in advance. Hence, where the 12 bars are supposed to be placed are sparse notes and large spaces where notes, harmony, and melody once existed. Touch, sense, and aural interrogation are the only bones left on the skeleton of Connor’s blues….”